Bellbrook graduation 2012
Fairfield Senior 2012 graduation
Kroger Aquatic Center opens
RedHawks expect grind-it-out affair against Zips
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
CLEVELAND — If luck is with Miami University's basketball team, the Akron Zips got all of that newfangled stuff — you know, offense — out of their system the other night.
Miami will face Akron Thursday, March 12, in the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals after the Zips kept their season alive with a 93-92 overtime victory over Toledo in the first round Tuesday, March 10. The winning points came on a jumper by Brett McKnight with one second left.
"One of the craziest tournament games I've ever seen," Miami senior forward Michael Bramos said, who has seen his share.
Still, the 185 total points might be OK for the Akron-Toledo series but numbers like 93 and 92 certainly don't reflect the spirit of the Miami-Akron rivalry.
Four years and 10 games have passed since the winner of any game between Akron and Miami has scored 90 points. Or 80. Or 70.
"I don't expect us to have a 93-92 game," said Bramos, who was named Wednesday as MAC Player of the Year. "Knowing us, it'll be in the 40s ... We'll grind it out against each other, probably."
The RedHawks have not scored more than 68 points in a game since Jan. 28, and that includes the two Miami-Akron match-ups.
The game in Oxford was tied 48-48 at the end of regulation before Miami pulled away to win in overtime 64-51. The RedHawks weren't so fortunate in the rematch in Akron, where they lost 53-44 while shooting 27.7 percent.
"It's been a struggle both times we played them," Miami coach Charlie Coles said.
Even the epic battle of the 2007 MAC championship game, with Doug Penno's 3-point bank shot at the buzzer sending Miami into the NCAA Tournament, saw the RedHawks score only 53 points.
Coles doesn't mind. He appreciates defense.
He also appreciates the thrill of tournament time, especially since he spent the 2008 MAC tourney in the hospital.
"It's like going to the (casino) boat outside Cincinnati and rolling the dice, although I don't go there," Coles said. "It's exciting. Everybody comes there with the same dream."
Coles is no exception even though he has lost two starting point guards and four of his last six games.
"We just go along," he said, "operating on faith and doing the best we can."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.
